BMJ
BUILDERS MERCHANTS JOURNAL
David Szymanski: Chairman
Building our Brands: Chairman’s viewpoint
The key message of the 2016 NBG conference from David Szymanski, Non-Executive Chairman of NBG, is ‘Building Our Brands’ through working better together.
N
BG is a Partnership of merchants, but we want the relationship with our Suppliers to also be a
Partnership - one where we actively support each other’s brands. A win- win scenario. Regardless of your views, the uncertainties surrounding Brexit will be a challenge to us all, but Independents always do well in periods of change. The Nationals have already reacted with branch closures and consolidation Conversely NBG continues to grow with turnover up over 9 per cent year-on-year and that is great news. NBG Partners have opened 34 new branches this year and there are more planned. We intend to continue to take advantage as the market runs in our favour.
Longevity Independents also have a fantastic
track record of longevity. We have nine Partners whose businesses are over 100 years old. In fact, Beers are celebrating their 100 year anniversary this year, only to be topped by Higgins who are celebrating 150 years. A true reflection of knowledge, experience and commitment which drives the success of independent merchant businesses.
We are very proud to be independent merchants in NBG. We continue to be at the heart of our industry and remain relevant to the ever-changing modern world. To maintain that relevence that we will continue to work closely with our Suppliers and develop systems to make that happen more effectively and efficiently.
Active involvement
It is very important that Partners have an ongoing and active involvement. This is delivered in a number of ways. For example, we carry out an annual survey which enables every individual Partner to tender their views and opinions We encourage all Partners to input,
resulting in very high return rates; nearly 100% in fact. We also get valuable opinion and feedback from the face to face contacts at Regional Meetings, Partner Events, and, indeed, our AGM.
It is a strategic aim of NBG to be considered the Premier Buying Group for independent merchants: to give a positive and attractive image to Members, Suppliers and prospective Members built on a strong set of values. It fundamentally underpins everything we do.
BMJ January 2017 Building our Brands
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